Aegis software controls Spectrum Assembly operations

December 21, 2011 - Spectrum Assembly purchased Aegis iLaunch and iView Manufacturing Operation Software modules for their Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) operation. Together, these provide SAI with a distributed, paperless environment to replace their earlier paper-based manufacturing process instructions. SAI purchased the software after their market investigation revealed it to be the most powerful yet most cost-effective solution available.

iLaunch allows automated development of text and graphics documentation for the production staff. It will also handle program generation for SAI’s Mydata production equipment, using Gerber files as input. iLaunch’s role is comprehensive, extending to BOM management, component engineering, process route design and other functions essential to new product introduction and modification.

iView works seamlessly with iLaunch, sharing a common SQL database. iView automatically dispatches iLaunch-generated documentation to each workstation under revision control. It can also broadcast change notices, process deviations and quality alerts throughout the system immediately on request. The documentation, being electronic, is interactive; operators can drill down to access more detailed information or visual aids as required.

SAI uses advanced technology to ensure precise, on-time deliveries. The company has particular expertise in external medical devices, backed by ISO 13485:2003 certification and State of California registration for medical device manufacture. Their service is complete as well as responsive, encompassing PCB assembly, cable and wire harness assemblies and entire box builds.

Their paper documentation comprised three copies: one for the master file, another for Quality Control and the third for the shop floor. Managing these without loss or damage to the documents, or loss of correlation between them, became a major challenge as customer demand for low volume runs of complex assemblies has steadily increased. These rapidly-changing conditions motivated SAI’s market survey, which identified the Aegis modules as their ideal solution.

Configuration of SAI’s Aegis software will be managed by a single Sustaining Manufacturing Engineer. A key feature of Aegis is that he will not require any programming expertise for this role, being free instead to focus entirely on optimising and updating production data to fulfill the fast-changing manufacturing workload. Over time, the system will be deployed across all of SAI’s production areas; small cable assembly, large cable assembly, PCB assembly and box building.

“In our industry, quality and responsiveness are critical. With Aegis, we now have a system where a single securely managed document can be generated or modified by our Engineering team from anywhere in our facility, and instantly distributed through a controlled environment to the right workstations across the shop floor” commented Wally Johnson, SAI’s VP of Sales and Marketing. “The Aegis system and the process we’ve developed around it allows us to be as responsive, if not more so, than anyone in our industry.”

About Aegis
Aegis systems provide hi-tech manufacturers improved speed, control, and visibility of all aspects of factory operations so they can do more with less. Today, manufacturers must maintain fewer assets, but achieve more utilization. They require less cost, but faster product launches and reporting, as well as less overhead, but total traceability. The Aegis Manufacturing Operations System (MOS) supports these goals, and delivers them in a way that defines and contains the investment required to complete the full system deployment.

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